THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 269 



"When grown in pots let tbe compost be mellow turfy loam two 

 parts, and one part each of leaf-mould, sharp sand, and thoroughly 

 decayed manure, say, for example, three-year-old hot-bed dung. 

 They may be potted singly in five-inch pots, but are more effective 

 if three or four bulbs are put into a seven-inch pot ; and for peculiar 

 purposes such sorts as Brenchleyensis or Bowiensis may be potted in 

 ten or twelve-inch pots, using seven or eight (or more) bulbs in 

 a pot. These, when in bloom, would make magnificent ornaments 

 for a terrace walk or the frout of any building. 



Another mode of dealing with them is to combine pot culture 

 and planting out, and this should be done by all who are afraid to 

 leave their bulbs out all the winter. Pot them singly in January, 

 and plunge the pots to the rim and cover them a few inches deep 

 with some protective material. During frost lay branches of spruce 

 over, or in any other way that may be convenient, protect them 

 from frost. By the 1st of May the pots will be full of roots, and 

 they may then be planted where they are to bloom, and this, of 

 coiu'se, should be done without any damage to the roots. 



There is yet another way of forwarding them preparatory to 

 planting out, and that is tp bed them in frames without pots. Cut 

 a lot of grass turves into breadths of about six inches, set them on 

 edge, six inches apart, and fill in between with suitable soil. Then 

 plant the bulbs in these divisions six inches apart, and leave them 

 till the fii-st week in May, when, the beds being ready to receive 

 them, they may be lifted out of the frame in squares and be planted 

 where they are to remain. J. Walsh. 



HYACINTHS FOE EXHIBITION. 



IT may happen that some of the readers of the Ploral 

 WoELD would find a pleasure in growing hyacinths in 

 true exhibition style, both for the better embellishment 

 of their conservatories and greenhouses, and perhaps to 

 exhibit for public competition, though there are but 

 few shows held at the time when hyacinths are in bloom. As an old 

 and successful exhibitor I propose to ofter a few observations, but 

 have no intention to enter into the subject of hyacinth growing at 

 great length. 



One of the first steps to achieve success is to secure suitable 

 bulbs. Some of the samples with which I have taken first prizes at 

 great meetings have been so large that I could scarcely get them 

 into 48-sized pots. Of course such bulbs fetch a long price, and 

 very few private growers would pvirchase them. Nevertheless, I 

 think it right to act upon the frequent suggestion of our worthy 

 Editor, " to keep nothing back, to let there be no secrets." I do not 

 mind saying that I have many a tim.e refused a guinea for a bulb, 

 which, except for its extraordinary size and weight, would have been 

 valued at half-a-crown, or even less. Such bulbs do not always, 

 however, make a proper return for their extravagant cost, for 



